Posted on: October 13, 2015

Author: ATB Business & Agriculture

You've heard it said that hindsight is always 20/20. That's certainly the case when it comes to getting your business off the ground. There are always things you wish you had thought of, or had done differently, missed opportunities, misunderstandings, and just straight up mistakes.

In the interest of learning from mistakes, we asked a group of successful entrepreneurs to look back and tell us what they wished they knew before they started their businesses.

“It’s very challenging. It’s far more work than I ever thought it would be,” said Paul Brassard, Co-Owner of Deville Coffee. “But it’s also far more rewarding than I ever thought it would be.”

“I wish I knew a lot more than I did, but maybe the best part about it is I got to learn as I went along and learn by my mistakes,” said Rob Reeves of Castrol Raceway.

“I wish I knew how much hard work and time it would take,” remarked Grady Topak, Co-Owner of YCC Cycle Spin Studio.

“It is probably a blessing I didn’t know when I started my business how much work it was going to be—how much time would be dedicated to growing the business,” said Jacqueline Jacek, founder of JACEK Chocolate Couture.

James Boettcher, owner of Fiasco Gelato added, “When I started, I wish somebody would have told me that there was light at the other side of the tunnel.”

“I also wish I had more of an understanding of just how integral our staff are to the success of our operation,” said Joanne Rowe of Peters’ Drive-In.

“I wish I knew all of the things I needed to know at that time,” said Louise Dirks of Gravity Pope.

“I didn’t realize that I would need to be a lawyer and a psychologist and a financial (expert), an accountant...that I needed so many skills in so many different facets.”

While there’s no magic formula for turning your entrepreneurial dreams into a successful business, passion and hard work seem to be common threads. (And, having a bank that believes in your dreams and has your back helps too.)